What Is The Best Underground Moling Equipment?
Underground moling, also known as impact moling, is a trenchless method of installing pipes through the displacement of soil. Underground moling majorly eliminates the digging of trenches.
This ultimately saves time and causes minimal disruption, and this is why it is the most preferred method of pipe installation. In addition to installing water pipes, impact moling can be applied in the installation of gas mains, cable ducts, and offline replacements.
The impact moling equipment (commonly known as the mole) is a tool consisting of cylindrical wear-resistant solid steel with a conical shaped head of tough steel. There are generally two kinds of moles: pneumatically powered and hydraulically powered moles.
The variation between the two moles is that the pneumatically powered mole requires a compressor at the surface adjacent to the entry pit, whereas hydraulic moles require a hydraulic power pack. Moles come in various sizes and heads, each of which provides different levels of performance.
Impact moles can also be categorised based on their head designs. The steerable moles enable curved trajectories and bores with multiple directional changes. The non-steerable moles, on the other hand, are designed to advance in a straight line.
In underground moling, several pieces of equipment are utilised to get the job done. This article will explore some of the features that will determine what is the best underground moling equipment.
The Impact Mole
The best boring tool(s) (or mole) will be the equipment that can work in all soil conditions - or at least the soil condition that is most prominent in your work.
A typical mole should be able to bore through clay, silt, sand, or gravel - whereas some specialised moles can even bore through rocks and more densely packed soils.
Between steerable and non-steerable moles, the non-steerable moles are the most commonly used. This is due to their ease of use and is inherently stable, unlike steerable moles.
Mole heads that come in different shapes, sizes, and designs are usually available to be used for different purposes. Since mole heads can be detachable, it is best to get moles of different sizes and functions for more efficiency.
Standard/Laser Optical Sights
The telescopic optical sight is one of the many accessories of an impact mole. The optical sight ultimately allows you to be more concise. This coupled with lasers can provide a more accurate alignment of the impact mole.
Another distinct feature to keep in mind is the adjustability factor. The telescopic optical sights can be adjusted to suit any site condition and ensure vertical and horizontal alignment.
Lubricators
A good lubricator ensures consistent lubrication by streaming oil directly into the air stream of the impact mole. Lubricators should maintain the longevity of impact mole and also be capable of adjusting its oil flow when in use.
When choosing your lubricator, ensure that you have selected a size that suits the diameter of your impact mole.
Expanders
Expanders, as the name suggests are used to expand the size of the hole after the initial bore has been made to reach the required diameter.
Expanders must be used with a pulling device to ensure that the tension is well sustained. They can either be attached to the front of the impact mole or the rear. They work with pneumatic-powered moles only.
Mandrels
Mandrels are used for holding and attaching hollow PE pipes to the air hose or pneumatic mole. There are different types of mandrels used for this process of underground moling.
The plain mandrel is a simple mandrel that may not be the most suitable for a torpedo-shaped impact head. The step and gang mandrel can fit different diameters of pipes. The collar mandrel is used for any diameter between 90mm to 100mm.
Air Hoses
Air hoses come in a selection of different sizes and diameters. When choosing the best air hose, ensure that it suits the diameter of your impact mole.
Some air hoses are reinforced with wire for quick release and threaded coupling. This feature will promote a more accurate reversing mechanism when an obstacle has been encountered. Abrasion-resistant air hoses are also beneficial for optimum accuracy.
To conclude, there is a large market for underground moling equipment and accessories. Underground moling typically consists of minimal disruption and is used when boring through soft soils like clays and silt.
Choosing the best equipment for your moling work would depend on the soil type. However, since most soil profiles consist of various soil types, there is bound to be some sort of equipment overlapping with other forms of trenchless technology.
